Page 106 of The Unwilling Bride
“I regret that the sight of me makes Beatrice burst into tears,” Merrick remarked as he came farther into the room.
“She’s rightly upset about all that’s happened and worried about her future. I told her we would provide her with a dowry.”
“We will?”
“She must have one if she’s to marry well. You do want her to marry well?”
“I would have her wed tomorrow if I could.”
Constance frowned. “Don’t you like Beatrice? Or is it because of her father’s crime that you—?”
“I’m the last person to blame a child for the sins of the father,” Merrick said, “and I do like her. It’s just that shealways seems to be so anxious or upset when she’s near me. As Henry once so memorably remarked, I don’t bite.”
“But you are intimidating. And don’t tell me you don’t know that. In fact, my imposing lord,” she said, insinuating her arms around his waist and giving him a very impertinent grin, “I think you’re very well aware of how you’re perceived, and cultivate that reaction, too.”
Merrick didn’t smile in return. “It does keep people at a distance.”
“There’s no more need for that, is there?” she wheedled.
He kissed her lightly, and then he smiled. “No—except for my enemies, or those who might become my enemies.”
“Of course. You may be as stern and forbidding to them as you like.”
“I’m glad I have your permission, my lady,” he replied.
There was something in his response, beneath the jovial banter, that disturbed her. “What is it? Did Earl Richard say something to trouble you?”
“Not the earl,” Merrick replied as he stepped away from her. “My grandfather had some news for me today. Talek set fire to the mill.”
Constance sat heavily on the end of the bed. She’d been wrong about that, as she had about so many things…. “Because you dismissed him?”
“Yes.”
“You’ll have to find him and bring him to justice.”
“Justice has already been meted out. Talek’s dead, bymy grandfather’s hand. It seems Talek was guilty of other crimes, as well. If my grandfather hadn’t killed him, I would have.”
Constance looked down at the floor. Talek had been a friend to Peder, too, and if Peder believed Talek guilty, he probably was. “How did Peder find out?”
“Talek confessed. Then he threatened my grandfather with…” He eyed his wife speculatively. “How much do you know about the smuggling around Tregellas?”
“Enough to guess what Talek’s threat might have been.” Talek likely claimed he would expose Peder’s illegal activities. “But the taxes really aren’t fair and—”
“I’ll do all I can to change that.” Merrick’s eyes glimmered with satisfaction. “But if my patrols have no luck catching tin smugglers, well…this is a difficult coast to guard.”
Constance regarded him warily. “Are you telling me, my lord, that you’d let tinners get away with breaking the king’s law?”
“As I have broken the law against participating in tournaments, perhaps?” he countered, smiling at her surprise. “My love, not only would I, I have. Remember that I grew up here with a grandfather who’s been smuggling for years. I know every cove, every beach. Which ones they use, which ones they don’t. So if my men have had no luck…” He shrugged, and grinned with roguish delight.
Constance laughed merrily and shook her head.“There may be no end to the things I’ll discover about my husband.”
“But those are the only laws I’ll turn a blind eye to,” he said firmly, sounding more like the man who’d arrived in Tregellas all those days ago.
“Those are the only ones I’d care to see broken,” she agreed. “Although, if I had my choice, I’d prevent you from going to tournaments. You could get hurt.”
“But then you’ll tend to me, won’t you?”
“Well, my lord, when you put it like that…”
